About this Item
Each volume one of 550 copies, quarto size, approx. 650 total pages, each volume signed by the author. The "Furnival Books" were a series of shorter works from young authors, some of whom would go on to be considered the best of their day. The brainchild of bookseller and publisher A. W. Steele, he published these limited edition copies under two imprints, but the entire series of twelve books were all printed by the Chiswick Press between 1930 and 1932. One of the great bonuses of this series are the frontispiece illustrations, several by some of my own favourite artists: John Austen, Robert Gibbings, Frank Papé, and Clare Leighton. Particulars on the twelve books are as follows: (1) Powys, T.F.; Warner, Sylvia Townsend (Foreword); Garnett, R.A. (Woodcut), "The Key of the Field", 1930, no. 12, 39 pp.; (2) Bates, H.E.; Garnett, Edward (Foreword); Austen, John (Line Engraving), "The Hessian Prisoner:, 1930, no. 477, 42 pp.; (3) Coppard, A.E.; Gibbings, Robert (Woodcut), "The Man From Kilsheelan", 1930, no. 180, 38 pp.; (4) Davies, Rhys; O'Flaherty, Liam (Foreword); Papé, Frank C. (Illustration), "The Stars, The World, and The Women",1930, no. 135, 53 pp.; (5) Hanley, James; Aldington, Richard (Foreword); Odle, Alan (Frontispiece), "The Last Voyage", 1931, no. 232, 73 pp.; (6) Strong, L.A.G.; Coppard, A.E. (Foreword); Garwood, Tirzah (Frontispiece), "The Big Man", 1931, no. 267, 45 pp.; (7) Manhood, H.A.; Williamson, Henry (Foreword); Hilder, Rowland (Frontispiece), "Little Peter the Great", 1931, no. 368, 95 pp.; (8) Warner, Sylvia Townsend; Powys, T.F. (Foreword); Kermode, William (Frontispiece), "A Moral Ending" (also containing "A Parting Gift" and "How to Succeed in Life"), 1931, no. 468, 47 pp.; (9) Garnett, David; Bates, H.E. (Foreword); Grant, Duncan (Frontis), "A Terrible Day", 1932, no. 148, 37 pp.; (10) O'Flaherty, Liam; Davies, Rhys (Foreword); Moon, P.V. (Frontis), "The Wild Swan" (also containing "It Was the Devil's Work" and "Unclean"), 1932, no. 121, 60 pp.; (11) Benson, Stella; West, Geoffrey (Foreword); Leighton, Clare (Frontis), "Christmas Formula" (also containing "Tchotl" and "A Dream"), 1932, no. 419, 67 pp.; [and] (12) Collier, John; Sitwell, Osbert (Foreword); Wolfe, Edward (Frontis), "Green Thoughts", 1932, no. 45, 56 pp. ___DESCRIPTION: The volumes all of a uniform design, with each bound in a different colour of cloth, each with the title in gilt on both the front board and the spine, the author in gilt towards the bottom of the front board, year of publication in gilt at the tail of the spine, top edges gilt, the limitation pages found before the half-titles each signed by the author, each volume with a frontispiece by different artists; binding quarto size (10 1/8" by 6 3/8"), pagination as set forth above. ___CONDITION: The set near fine overall, the boards on most volumes clean (vol. 2 with a thin line on the back board which appears to be some sort of residue, vol. 9 with small spot of soil on the front board, and vol. 12 with what appears to be offsetting from the glue), the corners on most volumes straight and unrubbed but a few volumes lightly bumped and with minimal rubbing, strong, square text blocks with solid hinges, the interiors clean and bright, and the set entirely free of prior owner markings; several volumes with sunning to the boards and most volumes with the spines sunned. Still overall a lovely set, a few condition issues to the bindings, the interiors fine, we noted several signatures unopened. ___POSTAGE: Please note that the combined size and weight of this set will necessitate additional postage, please inquire for details; International customers, also please note that any taxes, duty, or tariffs charged by your country will, of necessity, be your responsibility. ___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.
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